Let me get back to the question that I had left unanswered. Why did I book my tickets in an AC coach for traveling? Before trying to answer it, let me also highlight the irony of such an action vis-a-vis the fact that I have stopped using the AC in room. The irony is that by not using AC here at the guest-house in Bhubaneswar, I don’t save any money from my pocket. The company afterall, takes care of all the bills. On the other hand, for booking the train-ticket, I had to pay from my own pocket. In other words, any reasoning that justifies my travel day before, is bound to render my non usage of Ac at guest house, a funny, useless and an utterly insignificant act, even by own standards.
To answer the question raised in the first line of the preceeding para, I need to ask myself another question, already discussed before in previous posts: why don’t I use AC in my guest house at the first place? My last answer was: I don’t want money to spoil my lifestlye. There I go! When I booked the AC train ticket, didn’t I do exactly that – spoiling my life-style? If such a trend continues, how much time will it take before I become used to traveling in AC, before I become a slave of this habit? I let myself fall for the advantages that money can bring to a person! So, without any defense, let me accept: it was not right, especially after me already having made a decision to lead a simple life. I cannot have dual approach to life. I accept my mistake and take a pledge to not repeat it.
So, this becomes the new resolution and guiding principle of life: I shall never travel in AC coaches, irrespective of however money I have, as long as the reason is not beyond plain personal comfort. I have added the “as long as..” condition here because there might be a case or two in future when the reason for getting a ticket booked in an AC coach might have nothing to do with my own comfort (for example a group booking by company, non-availability of seat in other coaches etc., while traveling with parents / grand – parents who might feel comfortable in AC).
Wow! Self-doubt melted away so quicky, leaving such a satisfied soul. Thinking good is so easy. Being good is a continuous effort. May God be with me (and by God, I refer to that part of me, which is formless but which has powers beyond the limited powers of my physical self – the body and the mind).